British television is officially the world's most popular, reports the Scotsman. Overseas networks spent £556 million last year buying in UK programming and formats, according to new statistics released at the end of May.

Foreign broadcasters are queuing up to buy exports of programmes such as Prime Suspect and Footballers Wives, while also paying to use ideas for shows such as Pop Idol and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and then adapting them for their own markets. British dramas sell extremely well, with the genteel crime series Midsomer Murders being a particular favourite - it has been sold to 204 countries making its star, John Nettles, who plays chief inspector Tom Barnaby, one of the most widely recognised actors in the world.

The figures released by Pact, show Britain is now the world leader in selling either finished programmes or ideas to foreign networks. The US is by far the biggest market for UK programmes and ideas, and together with Canada accounts for 40 per cent of British television exports. Last year the sale of homegrown television programmes and their formats netted a record £556 million compared to £526 million in 2003. The figures were collected from Pact's 750 members on behalf of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

James Purnell, creative industries minister, commenting on the popularity of British programmes, said: "British TV is loved around the world. These statistics prove that. From established favourites like Midsomer Murders to alternative comedy such as Green Wing, our television companies continue to strike a chord with a global audience."

The Pop Idol format, devised by Simon Fuller, the former manager of the Spice Girls, proved to be one of the best-selling ideas, being bought by more than 200 countries last year.

The "take no prisoners" style of Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell, who has appeared on both the British and American versions of the show, has been a resounding success in the US where psychologists said at least two generations of American teenagers have been damaged by unconditional praise.

Other hits range from Ultimate Force, the all-action series, which sold to 140 countries, to the business mentoring competition The Apprentice, featuring Sir Alan Sugar, which went to 110 countries. Top-rated comedies include Rowan Atkinson in Mr Bean and police station comedy Thin Blue Line which over the years have sold to around 210 countries between them.

Women's drama programmes are in high demand with Footballers Wives and its sex, fashion and drugs storylines selling to 36 countries, while prison drama Bad Girls sells to 88. Both were created by the production company Shed, founded by Scots Eileen Gallagher, Brian Park and Ann McManus.

BBC Scotland's drama Monarch of the Glen, detailing the goings-on among the landed gentry at Glenbogle, has been exported to over 30 counties including Vietnam, Dubai, the US and Canada.

Other Scottish-produced overseas sellers include Highland cop drama Hamish Macbeth, starring Robert Carlyle, and 55 Degrees North, which follows the fortunes of black policeman Nicky Cole.

Barbara McKissack, head of drama at BBC Scotland, said while there was always a large overseas market from "expat" Scots wanting reminders of home, 55 Degrees North had broken new ground overseas.

"55 Degrees North was bought in the US incredibly quickly when normally we sell to Australia and Canada first. The fact that there was a race element meant that those living in urban America could relate to it.

"Monarch of the Glen and Hamish Macbeth both have that 'old country' feel with great scenery and family characters which appeal to the Scottish element in the US, Canada and Australia."

More offbeat British offerings such Channel 4's cult favourite Shameless and the hospital comedy Green Wing were sold to 15 nations apiece.

Best selling documentaries included Britney Spears: In the Zone which sold to 156 countries and the nature series Deep Jungle, seen in 155 countries.

In the culinary field, Jamie Oliver outsold Gordon Ramsay with Jamie's Kitchen going to 48 countries and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares to 20.

The British programme sales figures have been buoyed not just by selling the shows abroad but by putting them on to DVD and video to be released within weeks of broadcast.

DVD and video sales abroad of British TV shows were up 25 per cent last year compared to a rise of 12 per cent for sales of finished programmes for broadcast.